Paul Bonifas
9H Research Foundation
Laramie, WY USA
"There’s a different path for everybody, and the path can zig and zag."
Career Roadmap
Paul's work combines: Engineering, Science, and Accomplishing Goals
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
There is no one-size fits all answer for getting into this industry. In general, I believe a difficult engineering degree will give you the tools needed to critically think and problem solve. It seems that career success is a combination of hard work, perseverance, and being well-liked by the people you meet. I would try to avoid student debt. Get scholarships, join the military, apply for grants, etc.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Chemical Engineering and Chemistry
University of Wyoming
Graduate Degree
Business Administration and Management, General
University of Wyoming
Graduate Degree
Petroleum Engineering
University of Wyoming
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
I was born in France and moved with my family to south Texas and then to Casper, Wyoming, always following my father’s job in uranium mining.
2.
After high school, I knew I wanted to go to college, but I had no idea what I wanted to study—I was good at math and science, so I was encouraged to go into engineering.
3.
I started with petroleum engineering, but switched to chemical engineering because it sounded interesting—I kept taking petroleum engineering electives because those jobs started at a higher salary.
4.
After graduating, I took a job as a reservoir petroleum engineer in Dallas, Texas.
5.
The oil industry crashed and I was laid off, but I was actually excited because it gave me an opportunity to explore the world—I booked a ticket to Thailand and spent the next few months backpacking.
6.
I took another job as an engineer in North Dakota before deciding to go back to school—I received a grant that allowed me to earn both my MBA and a master’s degree in petroleum engineering.
7.
After graduate school, I explored some entrepreneurial and consulting opportunities—one of those opportunities led me back to Wyoming as a petroleum engineering consultant.
8.
I was again laid off when oil crashed during the COVID-19 pandemic, but I was quickly recruited to the 9H Research Foundation, where I now help drive innovation in clean energy and engineering.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Peers:
You'll never find another job if you leave to go backpacking around the world.
How I responded:
After getting laid off from my first job, I spent six months backpacking around the world. People told me not to do it because I'd never be able to find another job. No one was going to hire me again. I found that ridiculous. I still had my degree and job experience, so why should it matter if I took a break? When I came back, I was honest on my resume—I said I was laid off and spent six months backpacking. It only took one month before I had another job.